26. IV. 1921

Comrade Gorbunov!

I must bring to your attention the extraordinary disorder in our chancellery. From the attached telephone message it is evident that it was submitted on 24/IV. (what time?), received on 25. IV. at 11:25 a.m. (i.e., the telephone message was in transit for 11 hours!).

I received it on 26/IV. at 12 o'clock.

An absolute outrage!

I propose that you immediately conduct a precise and complete investigation, establish the persons responsible, and provide me with the material. The work procedure and organization of the chancellery must be reviewed and established anew.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

First published in 1932

in Lenin Miscellany XX

Printed from the manuscript